Case for keys and the like



` .QE-i256, 1922.

AW. R. BUXTON. AsE FoR EYs AND THE LIKE Patented Dec. 26, 1922.

-UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WARNER R. BUXTON, or LONGMEADOW, MASSACHUSETTS, AsSIGNOR To BUXTONINCORPORATED, or SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSA.

CHUSETTS.

CASE FOR KEYS AND THE LIKE.

Appiication iiied January 5, i922. 'serial No. 527,113.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, VARNER R. BUXTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Longmeadow, in the county of Hampden and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cases forKeys and the like, of which the following Vis a specifi-cation. f

This invention relates to improvements in cases for keys and the likeand, more particularly, to such cases wherein the keys are supported linsnap hooks and these hooks are pivotally supported from the lcase andarranged to swing out of the case along a Substantially definitearc-like path. One

example of the general type of key case, with which' this invention.isconcerned, is shown in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,261,692, granted tome on April 2, 1918.

The object of this invention is to provide. in a key case of the typedescribed means Awhereby the key-supporting snap hooks may not onlyswing in the desired arc-like path into and out of the case, but mayalso turn about an axis substantially at right angles to that aboutwhich they swing.

According to this feature of the invention, the hooks are swivelled, aswell as pivoted, and can turn with the key when the latter is turned inthe lock. Ordinarily, the case is held in thepalm` ofthe hand with twoor three fingers while the key isvheld between the thumb and firstfinger, and, in turning the key in the lock, a side strain is applied tothe snap hook which tends to Open it or distort it. Due to thiscondition, specially vconstructed hooks have been provided for key casesto prevent the keys from coming off the snap hooks when thus placedunder strain. With the provision for the swivelling movement, the hookwill turn relativelyto the case, under such conditions, and theundesirable side strains usually imposed are avoided. Also the hooks mayswivel' 45 while enclosed within the case to enable the keys to packdown into small compass.

Another object of the invention is toprovide, in a case for keys or thelike, a specifically improved means of mounting the hooks for theswinging and swivelling movement,

` characterized by a one-piece hook swivelled in a member which isrotatably mounted on a pivotal support fixed to the casing.

Other features of the invention ,will appear in the followingdescription and in the illustrative embodiment of the invention in theaccompanying drawings, in which,"

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a key case embodying the invention, theflaps of the casebeing shown in open position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view ofthe key case with the flaps closed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional view taken on the line3 3 of Fig. 1; A i

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the keyholder; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the hook Supporting collars.

Referring to these drawings, the caseforming member may be variouslyconstructed as desired, but preferably, as shown it is substantiallylike that of my prior pat-- ent such member being preferably formed froma strip of flexible material, such as leather and the like, and havingaback 10l and two flaps 11 foldable in overlapping relation over theback. These flaps 11 may be held together in overlapping relation by anysuitable means, such as the interengageable male and female fastenersshown at 12 and 13, respectively.

A The back 10 is suitably provided along its upper edge with a pivotalsupport for a Series of snap hooks z.. Preferably, although notnecessarily, this support is afforded by a separate member, such as 111,which I also term a key holder and which is adapted to be secured to theback 10 by some suitable means, of which the eyelets 15 are anexemplifcation. This pivotal sup port may advantageously consist of arod 16 which is mounted at its ends in sockets 17 formed by rolling upend portions of member 14 into cylindrical shape and which is heldagainst axial movement by lugs 1S struck up from member 14 to close theouter ends of sockets 17. On the rod 1 6 and between the sockets 17 area plurality of collars 19 which preferably abut, or Substantially abut,each other and fill the space between 'the sockets. as shown, has aninternal ldiameter somewhat larger than the external diameter of rod 16for the purpose of providing a recess between the interior of the collarand the eX- terior of the rod to receive a head 20 formed on the upperendrof the shank 21 of hook Each collar 19,

72. -The shank 21 is recessed in its side. edges beloiv head 2O toprovide a part 22 of a reduced Width and of a Width commensurate withthe thickness of shank 21 so that this part may turn, or swivel. in itscollar 19, the latter having a hole 23 in its periphery to receive thispart. To facilitate the assembly of the hooks in the collars 19, each ofthe latter is split longitudinally and diametrically of hole 28 as'shown at 52d. The collars can then be spread to permit the insertion ofthe heads into the interior.

thereof and thereafter closed up so that the walls ot'v hole 23encompass the part 22.

By this arrangement, the collars 19 can turn on rod 16 to provide forthe swinging movement of hooks z about the axis of the rod and the hookscan likewise turn or swivel in the' collars about axes at right anglesto that of rod 16. The hooks are restrained against substantialradialdisplacerather than by the ment by the heads 20 which by abutment withrod 1G limits such movement in one direction and by abut-ment withtheinterior of the collars opposite direction.

rlhe hooks it may be variously constructed to receive and removablysupport keys or other similar articles and this invention is independentof the particular st-yle of hook used although the particular form shownin 3 has been found tageous and desirable.

The invention has been disclosed herein` in an embodiment at presentpreferred, for

Aillustrative purposes, but the scope .of the invention is defined bythe appended claims foregoing description. What I claim is* 1. Aoase forkeys and the like, compr-ising, in combination with a suitable caseforming member, a series of devices pivotally mounted 4on said memberfor independent swinging movement, and a one-piece snap hook carried byeach device, the shank of each snap hook mounted in its device forturning movement about an axis substantially at right angles to that ofthe swinging movement.

19 limit such movement in the A particularly advan-' 2. case for keysand the like, comprising` in combination with a suitable case formingmember, ay pivot rod mounted on said member, a series of devices mounted1n axially spaced relation on said member, a one-piece snap hook carriedby each device, each snap hook having a shankmounted to' turn in itsdevice about an axis at right angles to that of said rod and an integralhead received between .the interior of the device and the pivot rod torestrain radial movement of the shank in either direction.

A case for keys and the like, compris ing. in combination with asuitable case forming member, a series of collars rotatably mounted inaxially spaced relation on vsaid member, and a snap hook mounted in eachcollar to turn therewith and to turn relatively to the collar about anaxis substantially at right angles to that of the collar.

4. A case for keys'and the like, comprising, in combination with asuitable case forming member, a rod mounted on said member, a series ofcollars mounted in axially spaced relation on said rod for turningmovement, there being a recess provided ybetween the inner Wall of eachcollar and the rod, and a snap lhook for each collar having a partextending radially therethrough and a head on said part disposed in saidrecess, said part being capable of.

- turning the collar.

WARNER R. RUXTON. i

